Homegrown watchmaker Garrick launches two new models

Newcomer Garrick has just released two new models: the Norfolk and the Regulator

Founded in 2014 by watchmaker Simon Michlmayr and businessman David Brailsford, Garrick produces low-volume bespoke British watches with a highly traditional slant. Debut model the Shaftesbury impressed with its in-house free-sprung balance as well as its multi-layered dial and well-finished case.

Garrick’s watches use Swiss movements, which are modified in Garrick’s workshops in Norwich, where four watchmakers (led by Michlemayr, whose previous projects include Meridian watches) also make dial blanks and the free sprung balances, and hand-finish locally-made cases.

Now, Garrick has extended its collection with two new watches, named the Norfolk and the Regulator. They join the original models, the Shaftesbury and the Hoxton.

The hand-wound Norfolk, above (perhaps Norwich-based Michlmayr had a hand in naming this one) has a maritime aesthetic, with a cream or white enamel dial and a central pair of bespoke thermally-blued anchor-shaped hands. A small-seconds sub-dial with a miniature version of the same hand is positioned at 9 o’clock, balancing out the large “Garrick England” logo that curves up between 3 and 6 o’clock.

Working with freelance designer Michael Holbeck, Garrick has intended to tap into British maritime history with the anchor hands and blue detailing on the hour and minute track and chapter ring (fast becoming a Garrick signature feature). The watch also includes a vintage-style “onion” crown, a new addition to Garrick’s range.

The 42mm Norfolk is yet to be priced and, interestingly, comes with a choice of movement – or rather, the promise of a choice. As standard, it will feature a heavily modified Unitas base movement with a free-sprung overcoil balance and a new Garrick 3/4 bridge, visible through a sapphire display caseback.

However, Garrick is currently working on a new caliber built in both Switzerland and the UK, and customers will have the choice to replace the standard movement with this once it’s completed. A further, totally British movement is in the works for sometime later, we’re told.

The second new model, the Regulator, is priced at £6,995 and limited to 15 pieces. It takes inspiration from regulator clocks, precision clocks used as a reference point for other timepieces. Rather than having a central minute hand, however, Garrick’s regulator puts hours, minutes and seconds on three regulator subdials, with minutes taking prominence at 3 o’clock; hours are displayed at 6 o’clock and seconds at 12 o’clock, with a distinctive red hand. The last quarter of remaining dial space is taken up by an aperture revealing the free-sprung balance of the hand-wound SM010 calibre.

Both the Norfolk and the Regulator will be launching at SalonQP in November. For more information on Garrick watches, click here.

Garrick will be exhibiting at SalonQP 2015 – the UK’s leading luxury watch show, held November 12-14 at the Saatchi Gallery in London. For more information, click here.